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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Parallels and windows xp pro

eyerag - Feb 26, 2008 - 4:30 am

Hi. I have a macbook pro, new, upgraded. I ran parallels, but it would not load xp pro, just shut down, then said corrupt files.

I got Fusion, and it loaded just fine.

First, why won't parallels work? I tried the iso image, it did not work either.

What am I missing by using Fusion instead of Parallels?

Sorry, i'm just new to a mac.

ScottW - Feb 26, 2008 - 8:52 am

Ira,

I go back and forth on the Parallels, Fusion debate. I really like Fusion because I have been a VMware fan for a long time. So, having it on the Mac is great. Plus, it seemed to run faster than Parallels.

However, that was awhile back and lately I have read that Parallels is faster and is better integrated and I thought I'd give Parallels a try and I think it is better, honestly.

Parallels was designed to be more integrated, you can easily just copy and paste between applications on Mac and Windows, access files on the Mac from windows file system and vise-versa. It just seems to "work" and running it in coherence mode makes it seem like your Windows app is just another Mac app. Fusion offers this, but seems to work better in Parallels.

I run Windows XP Corp Edition in both and runs fine. I imagine you just had some odd corruption. You can use the Parallels Transporter to copy your Vmware (Fusion) Windows image to Parallels. That should work fine, then just install the Parallels tools.

I did this and had no issues.

Scott

eyerag - Feb 26, 2008 - 9:50 am

If I go to the parallels transporter, is it pretty clear on how to transfer the Fusion windows image to Parallels? Is it also clear on how to install the parallels tools?

ScottW - Feb 26, 2008 - 9:54 am

Ira,

Yes, very easy. Once you boot up successfully with the new image in Parallels, under one of the menu options at the top for Parallels is the option to install the Parallel tools. It will start the install inside Windows for you directly.

Note that when you boot up your system the first time, you will get a lot of Windows errors of missing hardware and wanting to add new stuff, just skip all that and get the thing booted up. Then run the install Parallels tools, and then reboot the Windows OS and you should be off and running.

eyerag - Feb 26, 2008 - 10:02 am

But, the problem is still that windows xp pro will not load in Parallels. How do I transfer the image from Fusion to parallels, without xp installed through parallels? or, now that it went through fusion, should I try to install it in Parallels? (or am I using up too much space having both on the computer?) Sorry for these dumb questions, it's all pretty new to me.

ScottW - Feb 26, 2008 - 10:46 am

Ira,

Parallels has an application called "Transporter" that will "import" your vmware install to be Parallels image, so you don't need to re-install windows. The application is in the Parallels install directory. Make sure your running the latest version of Parallels.

Scott

eyerag - Feb 26, 2008 - 10:52 am

Thanks so much for your help. You have been most helpful. BTW, do you have any idea why windows would not load through Parallel? The people from Parallel said they never saw it before!!!!

eyerag - Feb 27, 2008 - 2:53 pm

Hi. Thanks, No, i have not had time to try it yet. Hopefully tonight, if not too much work. I can't wait, but afraid I'm going to break the darn thing!!! (i used to love using DOS, i had no fear, but with a new system, i'm afraid to touch the darn thing!!!!)

eyerag - Feb 28, 2008 - 10:35 pm

I still cannot do this because I cannot load xp into parallels. there is no way to import.

- Mar 1, 2008 - 2:55 pm

It didn't work. I opened parallels, went to import, when I tried to import from vmware, it wouldn't let me. Said the program is already in use!! I give!! I still don't know why parallels won't work with a new macbook pro!!!! The response from parallels is as bad as i've ever seen from any company!! Can you believe with a new version just bought, they told me i had to pay for help!! $29 when the whole thing cost $80!!!